Improvement in can-openers



1.. W. HEYSINGER.

CAN-OPENER.

No.183,669. Patented Oct.24. 1876.

Mlflesses:

N-PFIERS, FNOTO-LITHDGRAPHEK WASHINGTON, D (Iv UNITED STATES PATENT OFrIoE.

ISAAC W. HEYSINGER, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN CAN-OPENERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 183,669. dated October 24, 1876; application filed March 23, 1876.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, IsAAo W. HEYSINGER, of Philadelphia, county of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain Improvements in Gan-Openers, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the drawing accompanying and forming part of this specificatlon.

Referring to the figure, which shows, in perspective, a can-opener of my construction, A represents the body of the implement in general, while A shows the enlarged rounded end of the handle, made of convenient form for grasping with the hand, and having a suitable perforation, B, tor the reception of a cord, or for suspending the tool directly when not in use. This construction also gives a better gripe with the same weight of metal.

If deemed desirable, this handle may be included in a larger wooden one, or may be made of wood entirely.

At D D is seen a quadrilateral enlargement at right angles to the line of the handle, two opposite sides of which form shoulders to rest upon the can, and from the two other sides spring the cutting-blades G 0. These blades may be of wrought, but are preferably made of cast, metal. They are double, parallel in direction, and symmetrical in form. In general form they are spear-shaped, the blades at 0 c c 0 being broad and flat, tapering thence rapidly to the points 0 c. From the shoulders E D to the angles 0 c c c the broad blades are narrowed and thickened, being without edges so as to form a sort of neck. When being used these narrow portions allow the blades to be partly revolved from side to side by the motion of the wrist, while they are engaged in the tin cover of the can, so that the out may be made to take a direction either straight or curved, accordingly as the can is round or square in section. These thickened portions of the blade do not ofl'er any perceptible obstacle to the insertion of the cutter into a can, as the broad out, made by the flat forward portion of the blade in its descent, presents flexible edges which readily yield to said thickened portion.

No other form of blade will be found equally adapted for use upon a rectangular can, and

also to cut out a round can top without leaving rough angles; nor will it remove such cover at all without the use of very much more force and skill than are here requisite.

Experience has shown the spear shape, as is seen in the drawing, with slightly-curved convex edges, to be the best for use. These edges are ground, as shown, from the angles 0 c c c to the points 0 c, and form a cuttingedge with an obtuse or somewhat obtuse angle, something in the manner of the blades of a pair of scissors. This form of blades cuts with facility, while sufficient durability is secured, even when common cast-iron is the material employed.

The manner of using this implement is as follows: The handle being grasped in the hand like a table-fork, and the can placed upright upon a table, one of the points is thrust directly down through the tin, the other passing outside and to the right of the can, and forming a guide for the one used in cutting. The wrist being now slightly twisted to the right, and the handle depressed, a cut will be made by the blade rising through the tin, and the out may be varied in direction by twisting the wrist more or less. The handle is now raised, the edge of the blade being still kept in the angle just out, which will cause the shoulder D to step along into a new position. A second depression of the handle will now produce a second out, while the shoulder D, by pressing upon the sharp burr raised upon the can, will flatten the same, so that when the top of the can has been removed no rough surface will remain.

A very little practice will enable any one to use this little implement with ease and efficiency. It will be seen that the tool is both right and left handed, and by its double blades makes not only a more effective but alsoa much more durable tool, especially adapted to the purpose for which it has been devised.

What 1 claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. A can-opener having two straight parallel double-edged blades, 0 G, provided with a narrow part or neck just below the shoulder D, which will allow either blade to be slightly rotated while in the cut, so as to enable it to describe a curved or straight line according to the shape of the can, substantially as herein cutting-edge, the whole constructed substanset forth. tially as described.

2. As an article of manufacture, a right and left handed double-bladed can-opener, con- ISAAC W. HEYSINGER. sisting of a handle, A, shoulders D B, spear- Witnesses: shaped blades 0 0, having the inner surfaces P. O. DONNELL, plain, and the outer ones ground to an obtuse E. O. QUIN. 

